CCBSL places strong emphasis on sustainability

In Sri Lanka, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited (CCBSL), places strong emphasis on sustainability and being a responsible corporate citizen. To date, the company has invested close to US$ 1 million in numerous community development projects.

Abhishek Jugran, Country Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives Coca-Cola Far East Limited, in the presence of Patrick Pech, (Former) Country Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited and Kamlesh Kumar Sharma, General Manager, Public Affairs & Communication Coca-Cola India, Inc.The event was also graced by M. A. L. M. Hisbullah, Deputy Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs with Chairman. Urban Council, Kattankudy Al-Haj S.H.M. Asfar and Douglas Keh, Country Director, UNDP. Some of the invitees at the event.

As the world's largest beverage system, Coca-Cola has a presence in thousands of communities, across 206 countries, worldwide. Sustainability is a crucial component of Coca-Cola's global business strategy and a crucial component of the Company's Vision for 2020.

One of the Company's focus programmes on water and sanitation is "Every Drop Matters" Project - in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. The water and sanitation projects undertaken in 2011/12 in Trincomalee and Polannaruwa districts of Sri Lanka has helped vulnerable communities in improving the villages' water supply and sanitation facilities at a cost of US$ 100,000.

The company also worked in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in the area of Batticaloa, to purify over 1,700 wells in the area that were contaminated due to the flooding in 2011. Apart from the water sanitation project, CCBSL built 4 pre-schools in the area as part of their development of education in the country.

The company partnered with the UNDP to improve water sanitation conditions in the war-affected area of Kattankudy. This programme to provide a suitable sewerage and waste water disposal systems to 350 households in the region, was undertaken with the help of the Kattankudy Urban Council. The project won the 'Best CSR Award' in the category of North/East Reconciliation by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the President's Award in 2012.

"In 2013, we commenced the year by handing over a complete water supply system we built, to provide water to 60 households in a village called Athulekanda in Pathakada, Kalutara. The project was launched by the 'Say We Care' team at Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited, in response to the pleas of 60 poverty stricken families who battled daily to collect clean water for basic essentials, such as cooking and bathing. 'Say We Care' is a series of staff led projects that are special to the company. Conceived in 2007 and funded solely by the staff of CCBSL, what is unique about the projects taken on by the team is that every project is worked on by members of the Coke family.

The Company is also currently working with the UNDP on a project to conserve the Kelani River basin and a rain water harvesting project with UN Habitat in the Northern region of the country this year.

Through various grassroots initiatives which aim to improve the lives of communities in which it operates, Coca-Cola is ensuring that it stays focused on building a sustainable business for the long-term. The Company is constantly innovating and adapting to the Sri Lankan market and is spreading happiness, a single community at a time.